The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-10-08

little foot, she clenc.e ed her hands and
CRASHED her pearly teeth. 81 will give
them my opinion Of their foolish crit
icisms," she said to herself. "They
have not sense enough to discover and
appreciate the merits Of my book. l
will write something like Byron's
'English Lords and Scotch Reviewers
l will have my revenge yet, yes,
WILL" Hrf
Some weeks passed away and Belle
wrote 10 her publisher tr ascertain why
he had not sent her any account of the
sales of her hook. The reply was brief
and was as follows: ave are sorry
to inform you that we have not been
able to sell two dozen copies of the
book. We see no prospect of dispos-
ing OF any more. They are subject tn
your order"
Poor Belle was mort; fed seyond all
description. She began now to see her
folly, and to wish she had never heard
of the s'Sad Lovers of Molindale." Her
experience was similar to that OF many
other young scribblers, who have been
deceived by their own imaginations
and engutfed in the fascinating mael-
strom of authorship.
1t was some time before Belle had
the courage to mention the matter TO
her uncle, but at last she did so. She
told him with tears.
81 thought ii would be- so," said the
! old man s'but never mind now. Learn
lesson, and go at something you can
do.'
81 don't know what that is,' said
Belle dcspondingly.
"Why can you not teach school:''
81 suppose l could, but l don't Ii Ike
the idea.''
"No; there's pride again.
cit is not, Uncle" said Belle, while
tears gathered in her eyes. "Please
do not abuse and scold me. will try
to teach if can get school.'
Belle had au object in view in thus
yielding to her uncle'a suggestions. She
desired to convince him that he had
formed an incorrect opinion of her
character. The truth was sho hated
him in her heart, but it was worth
''stooping to conluer"-a fortune. She
determined to practice discrimination in
order to conceal her moral blemishes
from her uncle. She would prove to
him that she was not selfish. If he
saw that she was trying to help her.
self, but could not succeed, nc would
probably take compassion on her,
change that abominable will and make
her his heir. 1t was not too late, she
thought. She dislilsed the idea of
taking school, and thought it derog-
atory to her dignity, but she yielded
with the best grace she could to what
seemed to be her uncle's wishes. One
~, oh I1<r
that was she would not succeed rs u
teacher. Ii she did her uncle would
be certain to disinhcrjt her. Such was
Bellies idea.
Five or six weeks after the foregoing
interview with her uncle we find Belle
in a country school house surrounded
by about thirty urchins, graded all
along in the paths OF literature from
Webstcr's spelling book to the fifth
reader. The business was exceedingly
distasteful TO Belle, and she took n bit
Tor cry every day over her misfortune
and hated her uncle more and more
for reducing her to this degrading nc
cessity.
An event, however, soon occurred
that put an end to her grievous troub.
les, and afforded her the covctous re.
lief. But, alas! such relief as it was!
1t had to be purchased at the expense
of conscience.
One morning carriage drove up TO
the school room door, and the driver
haned Belle a noto from her mother.
She glanced over the contents, which
were ns follows:
"Your uncle is now getting worse
every day, and do not think he can
last much longer. 1t is too much for
Mary to stay with him day and night.
send for you to come, and help nurse
him. Besides, your own interest needs
looking after. Watch your chances,
and try to get your uncle to change his
will. Something must be done, or we
will be reduced to bcggary. Any how
it will not look right tor you to be alb
sent when he dies. When you come,
he very kind and attentive to him. l
know you are very sharp-witted, and
you can think of things which 1 can-
not. If we don't get that abominabIe
will changed, l do not see what is TO
become Of us. But l will say no more
as l expect to see you to,day.'
Belle Immediately dismissed her
school, and started homeWard.
Human Nature! what is il: Who
can understand it: Look at that beau
tiful young lady, as she rolls along in
the carriage. The epl;ysiognomist might
have gaZed into Eer handsome face,
but he wouiu have been deceived.